My name is Ike, and I'm relatively new to these fora. I have a pretty varied MA experience, starting with TMA and now culminating in MMA and Paul Vunak's take on JKD Concepts/Kali, in which I am currently an Apprentice Instructor (under Duane Walden and Eddie Quan, both Full/CEI Instructors under Paul and part of the PFS family/core), working my way towards a Phase One Instructorship. I am primarily concerned with functional martial arts and applying rigorous training methods in MMA to the self-discovery and "horizon-broadening" process of JKD. All in all, I think I'm pretty sharp, have a good head on my shoulders, and generally I know how to make an observation, but more importantly, I know when to shut the hell up and listen, learn, and train.

With that said... I recently moved to LA , and though I am happy to have found an excellent PFS JKD/Kali gym, I long for the days of *consistent* full-contact sparring/rolling, bag work, and pyramid kicking drills. As I near my goal of acheiving Phase One in PFS, I am looking forward to stepping away from a JKD-only program and immersing myself in MMA once more.

So, I am looking for a gym with a good Muay Thai (or Boxing) as well as BJJ (or Judo/BJJ/Sambo) program that is taught by well-ranked instructors (in each art) that also provides an ego-free, no-nonsense learning environment. I want to belt in BJJ as well as have the opportunity to spar full contact. Can those of you in the Greater Los Angeles area make a recommendation?

Also, for those of you walking into new gyms with considerable previous experience, what do you recommend I do? A) Not even mention my ranking in JKD and start from scratch B) Approach the instructors about my previous experience and attempt to start at an intermediate level?